2019 Sept Book Group

About the Author

Soniah Kamal is a writer and educator of note, who is active in Atlanta as well as South Asia. Her short story won the 2017 Agnes Scott College Writers' Festival Prize for Fiction. Her debut novel, about terrorism in Kashmir, was an Amazon Rising Star pick and a finalist for the Townsend Prize. Learn more about Soniah's many accomplishments at http://www.soniahkamal.com/about-me.

Soniah describes herself as a postcolonial child educated in Pakistan's English medium system, well versed in classic English writers. She is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and serves as a Jane Austen Literacy Ambassador. Soniah first immersed herself in Pride and Prejudice at age 16.

"History has made it such that my mother tongue...is the English language. I wanted to write a novel that paid homage to Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, as well as combined my braided identification with English-language and Pakistani culture, so that the "literature of others" became the literature of everyone. Therefore, Unmarriageable." Soniah Kamal

About the Book

Soniah Kamal's Unmarriageable is Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan. This comedic, cross-cultural homage to Jane Austen is an Amazon Best Books Pick and a Library Reads Pick. The book has been featured in People Magazine. NPR called it "thought provoking and deliciously readable." Booklist said: "This love letter to Austen reexamines sisterhood, society, and marriage in Pakistani culture." Forbes called it "endearing" with "all the ingredients that make Pride and Prejudice's re-telling an exciting, dramatic and fun South Asian adaptation." Among other glowing reviews are these starred entries:

"[A] funny, sometimes romantic, often thought-provoking glimpse into Pakistani culture, one which adroitly illustrates the double standards women face when navigating sex, love, and marriage. This is a must-read for devout Austenites."

Publishers Weekly -- Starred Review

"Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan may seem like an unusual pairing to some, but the rich cultural backdrop only enhances and breathes new life into Jane Austen’s classic. Kamal boldly embraces this treasured love story, creating a version solely her own. An Austen fan herself, the author remains faithful to the original story while giving readers insight into Pakistani culture in a modern retelling both enlightening and entertaining. The dialog sparkles with sharp humor, which will dazzle readers with counterparts of the original. Austen devotees will rejoice in this respectful cross-cultural update of a beloved classic."

Library Journal -- Starred Review